Lexan Windows- Street Use

84CAB · 03-16-2005, 02:29 PM

Anyone using Lexan rear & quarter windows in their street cars? I read through the archives and a few people advised against it due to scratching and leaking but most of those post were old and I am curious if anyone has done it since then and what success they are having? Leaking isn't really a concern as I don't drive in the rain. Can regular window tint be used on Lexan... if it will adhere to it that would cure the scratching problems.

limble · 03-16-2005, 03:10 PM

How about tear offs like race cars?

84CAB · 03-16-2005, 03:14 PM

Quote:

How about tear offs like race cars?

Don't know anything about them... Edumacate me please... Now that I think about it the tint won't work being that it's on the inside..

limble · 03-16-2005, 03:25 PM

http://www.pitstopusa.com/detail.aspx?ID=5114

and here are step by step instructions
http://www.racingoptics.com/INS/WindshieldStack.pdf#search='tearoff%20windshield'

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

You might want to look into this more. If you are looking to save weight, those who have done it find it doesnt save much at all and is not worth it in the end. But then again im not completely sure they had the right width.

DustinTarditi · DustinTarditi's Garage

If you're referring to a car registered and insured to drive on the street (by the term street car), many states have laws against anything that does not have a DOT approved mark on it. You may want to double-check with the DMV in your area.

I had a VW Type 181 (Thing) that failed NJ state inspection because the windows were lexan, not the approved material - I should have left the windows at home

Just my $.02

Kevin Stewart · 03-16-2005, 05:37 PM

please remember you will replace it with a couple years, Kevin

afterburn 549 · 03-16-2005, 06:23 PM

This is what I think i know.You will save aprox 90 lbs if you replace all the glass. (coast about a grand) Is it worh it? No!- cool Facter Yes! If you replace just the rear you save about 12 lbs depending on what thickness you use.
Lots of venders will till you that the rear window is hvy. Is not, about 17 lbs.
I just went thrue all this ,,made my own lexan rear......to do over I would spend the $$ and have them all made....Done right they will not leak,do let more noise in, and you might have to put straps on the rear window.....Really more of a ego trip I will freely admit...but I am looseing wt!

Jack Olsen · 03-16-2005, 08:21 PM

I have Lexan rear quarters and front vent windows. There are no durability issues with these at all, in my opinon. However, the weight savings is pretty minimal, especially if you retain the stock frames.

Why not, though? You can use cheap hardware store Lexan for the project, and it's practically free.

Lexan's terrible for side windows that have to be raised and lowered (it will scratch, quickly, and it's flat, which makes raising and lowering them even more frustrating.

Lexan's not worth it for a windshield on a street car. It will get sandblasted in a hurry. I'd only use this for race applications.

For the rear window, it's kind of a tossup in my opinion. It'll save you more weight than the quarters and vents combined, but it will cost you more (no flat hardware-store Lexan) and will also slowly get scratched up and eventually need to be replaces.

Kevin Stewart · 03-16-2005, 08:29 PM

make sure you get mar resistant lexan and not the cheap stuff, (4x8 sheet regular is about 90 bucks, mar resistant is over 200, ) all lexan does get cloudy, and will eventually brake if it is stressed, dont buy the hardware store plexi glass, buy from a race shop, etc, unless the hardware store has actual LEXAN, Kevin

Chuck Moreland · 03-16-2005, 08:53 PM

I cut my own for sides, quarters and the rear. All from flat lexan. Everything except the windshield.

My car is street driven, but it is not a daily driver by any means. It is a basically a race car with a license plate and carpeting.

They don't leak any water but it is a bit louder. But with a car like this, the noise is considered music. It has no radio.

I used regular lexan, not the scratch resitant type. Next time I do this it will be with scratch resistant. Silly not to use the longest lasting material, live and learn.

Still, 18 months later it is plenty clear, with only minor hazing and that includes the side windows. When it gets too cloudy I'll replace it. BFD. Lexan windows are consumables, so if you go this route plan on replacing them every so many years.

My car is a continuous project, so replaceing windows is just par for the course.

If you are talking about a regular-use street car, stick with glass. If low-maintenance is key, stick with glass. But for a toy car that is otherwise totally impractical anyway, sure lexan windows are fine.

randywebb · 03-16-2005, 09:20 PM

It's too bad the surface of Lexan can't be treated somehow to make it as hard as glass, or that nothing can be bonded to the surface to accomplish the same thing....

Tim Hancock · 03-17-2005, 03:36 AM

One can buy "abrasion resistant polycarbonate" but it can cost over double what regular polycarbonate (Lexan=trade name) costs. I found it in McMaster Carr, but it will be cheaper to purchase from a local plastic supplier obviously.

Acrylic (plexiglass=trade name) is much more scratch resistant (and cheaper), but is not impact resistant like Lexan. Plexiglass is what is used for small airplane windows typically. It forms well so almost all windshield/ canopies are made from it. I cannot comment on the safety of using for glass replacement, but most small airplanes travel at 120 mph or so all the time. In the air, you do not have to worry about stones being kicked up though (bird strikes are the main concern here, but rarely happen on 120 mph airplanes).

All that said, if I were to replace rear and side glass in mine, I would not hesistate using Plexiglass.

10zz964 · 03-17-2005, 03:54 AM

found this on rennlist.
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=191460

afterburn 549 · 03-17-2005, 07:05 AM

after working with lexan (my rear window) i do not see any safty issues......I used the best grade available....If I had to stand behind it and you throw a rock at me I belive I would prefer the lexan as the shield.It is really tuff stuff........in the hueys we allways waxed the stuff to keep it clean and never ran the wipers unless one had to .The stuff is even better today. Trouble is ,is real hard to mold into compound turns..and the rear one is compound .....(if you want the stock look)

Tim Hancock · 03-17-2005, 07:12 AM

Yep, lexan is impact resistant, plexiglass is not, but plexiglass is cheaper, easy to mold and will not scratch as easy as lexan. This is the basic point I tried to make above.

Kevin Stewart · 03-17-2005, 07:56 AM

I believe mar resistant(abbrasive resistant) scratches about the same as plexiglass, I am confussed though, plexiglass shaters when you try and bend it around(ask me how i know) mar resistant i believe is regular lexan with a mar resistant film on both sides, mar resistant stays clear longer, i am putting a new windshied in my race car this year, its four years old, the problem was cracks, the back window is standard lexan and i replace it every two years because even washing it leaves scratches, back to plexi glass, that is just nasty stuff hard to cut will shatter, lexan you can cut the thiner stuff with snips, Kevin